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The top U.S. health official has called on the WHO to address an Associated Press allegation that one of its doctors repeatedly committed sexual misconduct.
“Many of us support survivors, identify victims, and truly committed people who are frustrated with what has happened,” said Lois Pace. The US Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for International Affairs’ service said Tuesday at a meeting of the WHO’s board of directors.
The Associated Press reported last month that a WHO doctor accused of sexually assaulting a woman at the Berlin conference in October was reported to senior WHO officials for allegedly harassing another staff member years ago. reported.
The previous allegations had no serious consequences for Dr. Temo Wakanibal, who, with the help of his WHO colleagues and the Office of the President in his home country of Fiji, was preparing to run for the position of Regional Director for the Western Pacific.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a conference that the investigation into the October incident was complete.
“We regret that the media has identified the alleged perpetrators,” Tedros said during a discussion on sexual abuse prevention. There are no plans to make public the investigation into Waqanivalu’s reported misconduct.
“If the allegations are substantiated, disciplinary action will be taken,” Tedros said.
In 2018, senior WHO officials were informed of allegations of sexual harassment against Wakanibal, according to classified documents obtained by the AP. The accuser was later informed that pursuing a formal investigation may not be her best option.
In an interview with a WHO investigator, Wakanibal “absolutely” denied having sexually assaulted him. He declined to comment to his AP.
In recent years, WHO has been plagued by numerous reports of misconduct. In May 2021, the AP reported that senior WHO officials were informed of allegations of sexual abuse during the Ebola outbreak in Congo but did little to stop them. A commission appointed by WHO later found that more than 80 of her workers had sexually abused women under the direction of WHO.
No senior WHO official involved in the exploitation has been fired. Director-General Tedros on Tuesday disputed an independent commission’s finding that three of his WHO staff members, who had been on leave following allegations of abuse, engaged in “administrative misconduct”. He said he has since returned to work.
At Tuesday’s session, Fiji’s representative to WHO said all individuals accused of sexual misconduct should be treated fairly. She said WHO officials who leaked “sensitive information” should be held accountable. “Due process must be respected and all individuals involved must be treated fairly,” the official said.
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